Within the scope of modern MMA, dating back to the first UFC event and the creation of universal MMA rules, there have been many records set and later broken. Some of the records are still held today, but as the months and years pass, fighters continue to improve and set the bar higher.
While the number and length of rounds are determined by the Unified Rules of Mixed Martial Arts, the actual time it takes for a fight to go from start to finish varies widely. Typically you can count on at least a few minutes of sparring and grappling, but a few notable bouts have ended so quickly that if you blinked you might have missed the whole thing.
The quickest recorded knockout at a major MMA fight occurred during the 2006 K-1 HERO event between Norifumi Yamamoto and Kazuyuki Miyata. Yamamoto delivered a flying kick just as the bell rang and the fight was over; the elapsed time was a mere four seconds. No doubt Miyata would like to forget about that one, but for Yamamoto it was one for the books. UFC’s fastest recorded fight time is a matter of contention between fans and UFC against the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Due to a timekeeping error, the state lists the Christmas Eve, 2011, fight between Duane Ludwig and Jonathon Goulet as 11 seconds from start to finish. However, most fans and the UFC itself list the fight as ending in just six seconds. Either way, it was certainly Ludwig’s fastest TKO.
While it is impressive to see guys fighting in their 40s, MMA legends such as Randy Couture, make it look pretty easy. Not to mention a guy like Dan Severn who just retired after his April, 2012, win against Alex Rozman, when he was just a few months shy of his 54th birthday. But those fighters pale in comparison to John Williams who made his pro MMA debut in 2010 at the age of 70. Williams not only holds the record for being the oldest MMA fighter, but also the oldest fighter to win an MMA fight when he defeated his opponent, a mere lad of 49 years.
Who is the greatest MMA fighter of all time? Well, some might argue that Anderson Silva is at the top of the list with his impressive 32-4 record or maybe it’s Fedor Emelianenko with his solid 34-4 record. Despite their amazing MMA skills, they aren’t even close to holding the record for the most wins. Travis Fulton, arguably the hardest working man in MMA has logged an amazing 307 pro fights, including a record number of submissions (150) and a record number of knockouts (91). Take a look at his record and you will find plenty of fights ending in under a minute, as well.
Of course, not all records are the ones you really want. Take, for instance, the records set by Shannon Ritch. He’s a tough guy and has participated in more than 125 professional MMA fights. Unfortunately, most of them have been losses. He has recorded more than 70 losses, which is pretty much the worst pro record in the sport. Of course, that is not as bad as Kenneth Allen, who in 31 fights has one just a single bout. Still, you have to give him credit for trying.
Nolan Barias enjoys blogging about mixed martial arts benefits. For additional information about boxing classes in San Diego or to find MMA schools in San Diego, please visit TheArenaMMA.com today.